Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (TID) and their parents depend on school nurses to keep students safe in school. Parent satisfaction with T1D care is impacted by school factors including school nurse presence. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among parental satisfaction with diabetes care in school, parental report of diabetes-related safety, adolescent report of school nurse helpfulness, and school nurse presence represented by school nurse to student ratios. The sample consisted of 89 parent–adolescent dyads. Adolescents 10–16 years old with T1D completed a questionnaire that included perceptions of school nurse helpfulness. Parents completed a questionnaire that included perceptions of T1D safety and satisfaction. Diabetes-related safety was positively correlated with parental satisfaction and school nurse helpfulness and inversely correlated with age and school nurse to student ratios. Findings validate the importance of school nurse presence to adolescents with T1D and their parents with implications for school nursing policy, practice, and research.

Delegation of nursing procedures and medication in school is fraught with legal and ethical concerns for the school nurse. Because nurses may be responsible for coordinating care for several school buildings, delegation of nursing care and medication administration has occurred out of necessity. Nurse Practice Acts in some states, but not all, allow for delegation of medication to unlicensed assistive personnel. This article explores Glucagon(®) delegation laws in the United States and presents an argument against such delegation in states where Nurse Practice Acts do not allow for delegation of medication to unlicensed assistive personnel.

Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience unique self-management challenges, which can lead to poor glycemic control and sequelae. School nurses may impact student self-efficacy behaviors for T1D management in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among school nurse staffing patterns, measured by school nurse to student ratios, self-efficacy, and glycemic control in adolescents with T1D. The sample consisted of 89 parent–adolescent dyads. Adolescents aged 10–16 years old with T1D completed the Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Self-Management (SEDM) Scale. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire. Higher school nurse to student ratios correlated with better glycemic control and older age. Higher SEDM scores correlated with older age, and females scored significantly higher. Findings contribute new knowledge to the paucity of literature on school nursing and adolescents with T1D, with implications for nursing practice, education, research, and policy.